Generation and characterization of induced pluripotent stem cell lines from three primate species

Summary

Cross-species comparisons using pluripotent stem cells from primates are crucial to better understand human biology, disease, and evolution. The Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus), the Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)  and Baboons (Papio anubis) serve as an important primate model for such studies. Here we have reprogrammed skin fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs):

• Rhesus macaque: skin fibroblasts derived from a male individual resulting in three iPSCs lines.
• Vervet monkey: skin fibroblasts derived from a male and a female individual resulting in two iPSCs lines.
• Baboon: skin fibroblasts derived from a male individual resulting in two iPSCs lines.

These iPSCs display the characteristic ESC-like colony morphology, express key pluripotency markers, and possess the ability to differentiate into cells representing all three germ layers. Importantly, the generated cell lines can be maintained in feeder-free culture conditions using commercially available medium, enhancing their value for cross-species comparisons.